Brussels promised Slovakia measures over plan to halt Russian gas imports to the EU

Bratislava/Brussels, 15 July (Czech News Agency (ČTK) correspondent) - The European Commission (EC) has promised Slovakia six different measures and steps in connection with its proposal to gradually halt imports of Russian gas into the European Union by the end of 2027. This is according to a document seen by ČTK. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico had made Bratislava's consent to a new package of sanctions against Russia for its ongoing military aggression in Ukraine conditional on the EC providing guarantees to ensure future gas supplies at fair prices. Slovak opposition parties have criticized Fico for his approach to the gas import negotiations.

Slovakia has long imported gas from Russia, with which it has a contract for supplies of the commodity through 2034. EU foreign ministers will discuss new anti-Russian sanctions in Brussels today, and according to EU foreign policy chief Kaja Kallas, they are close to reaching an agreement.

The European Commission, for example, intends to address cross-border charges in the oil and gas sectors. It plans to focus in particular on charges related to gas transportation, in an effort to mitigate the negative impact of ending Russian gas supplies. It also wants to work with Slovakia to strengthen energy security and lower electricity and gas prices. The EC also intends to work with Bratislava on legal matters concerning any disputes related to the implementation of a decision to end gas supplies from Russia. It should also prepare a solution to enable the use of EU funds to compensate households and industry for any negative impacts of its proposal.

Fico has repeatedly criticized the EC's proposal to end Russian gas imports into the EU, calling it ideological. He has said, for example, that the move would lead to higher gas prices. Slovakia would also lose transit fees for transporting Russian gas and would instead have to pay more to transport gas from other sources for its own needs, he said. Fico has also warned of the risk that Slovakia could face arbitration if it fails to honor its gas supply contract with Russian company Gazprom.

Slovak opposition parties today criticized the approach taken by Fico, who is serving his fourth term as prime minister, and his Smer-Social Democracy party to resolving gas supply issues.

"What has Fico been doing for the past two years? All of Europe has been working to disconnect from Russian gas. He has done absolutely nothing here, defending the economic interests of an aggressor that invaded another sovereign country," said Branislav Gröhling, leader of the liberal Freedom and Solidarity party, at a press conference.

He added that Russia uses gas as a weapon and that wholesale gas prices in Slovakia are among the highest in the EU.

The Christian Democratic Movement (KDH) said in a statement that Slovakia is lagging behind other EU countries in meeting the goal of reducing its energy dependence on Russia. "Under the current government, its leader has visited Moscow instead of negotiating with key partners, weakening Slovakia's negotiating position not only within the EU. Instead of cooperating and coordinating its approach in line with agreements at the European level, the prime minister and Smer constantly fan tensions, both at home and internationally," KDH said.

Fico made Bratislava's consent to the 18th package of sanctions against Russia conditional on the provision of guarantees. While approval of restrictions against Moscow requires unanimous agreement among EU member states, a qualified majority vote among EU member states will be sufficient to pass the proposal to end Russian gas imports. This means Slovakia and Hungary, which takes a similar position on the issue, can be outvoted.